[11] Multiple Pregnancy Flashcards
What is a multiple pregnancy?
A pregnancy with twins, triplets, or higher numbers of embryos
Why is multiple pregnancy considered to be high risk?
Due to the increased risk of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality
Give 2 factors that cause variation in the prevalence of multiple pregnancy
- Race
- Use of reproductive techniques
What is the rate of twin births in North America and Europe?
5-13 twin sets per 1000 live births
What has recently happened to the rate of twin pregnancies?
Rapidly increased
Why has there recently been a rapid increase in number of twin pregnancies?
Due to reproductive technology, resulting from ovulation induction and replacement of more than one fertilised embryo in the IVF cycle
What changes have been make to reproductive technologies as a result of the risks of multiple pregnancies?
The technique of replacing many embryos to enhance conception rates has been abandoned, resulting in a fall in the rates of twins
What is monozygotic multiple pregnancy also known as?
Uniovular, or identical
When does monozygotic twin pregnancy occur?
When a single ova results in multiple embryos
What is the rate of monozygotic twin pregnancy?
1/280 pregnancies
What happens in the formation of a monozygotic pregnancy?
The zygote divides sometime after conception
What is the importance of the time of split in monozygotic twin pregnancies?
The time of split determines the features of the embryos
What happens if the zygote splits after 0-4 days in monozygotic pregnancies?
There will be 2 embyros, 2 amnions, and 2 chorions
What % of monozygotic pregnancies split after 0-4 days?
25-30%
What happens if the zygote splits after 4-8 days in monozygotic pregnancies?
There will be 2 embryos, 2 amnions, and 1 chorion
What % of monozygotic pregnancies split after 4-8 days?
65-70%
What happens if the zygote splits after 9-12 days in monozygotic pregnancies?
There will be 2 embryos, 1 amnion, and 1 chorion
What % of monozygotic pregnancies split after 9-12 days?
1-2%
What happens if the zygote splits after 13+ days in monozygotic pregnancies?
There will be conjoint twins, 1 amnion, and 1 chorion
What % of monozygotic pregnancies split after 13+ days?
<1%
What happens if the embryo splits into 3?
Get monozygotic triplets
Does the splitting of the embryo in monozygotic triplets occur at the same time or sequentially?
Can be either
How is the determination of monozygosity performed?
By ultrasound
When should determination of monozygosity by ultrasound occur?
Preferably before 14 weeks
What will a pregnancy where the embryo split after 4 days show on ultrasound?
A single thin membrane or no membrane, and a single placental mass
What is it called when a pregnancy where the embryo split after 4 days has a single thin membrane?
Monochorionic diamniotic
What is it called when a pregnancy where the embryo split after 4 days has no membrane?
Monochorionic monoamniotic
What will a pregnancy where the embryo split before 4 days show on ultrasound?
There may be 2 separate placental masses, or a single mass with a twin peak sign where the membranes and placenta intersect
Why is early determination of zygosity important?
In order to plan the management of the pregnancy
Other than ultrasound, what can be used to confirm zygosity?
Genetic assessment of amniotic fluid, chorionic villus sampling, or postnatal cord blood
Why is confirmation of zygosity by means other than ultrasound rarely used?
Due to modern ultrasound technology
When does dizygotic multiple pregnancies occur?
When there is separate fertilisation of separate ova by different sperm
What does dizygotic multiple pregnancies produce?
Non-identical twins
What will be found on ultrasound in dizygotic twin pregnancies?
2 separate placentas on ultrasound, or a single placenta with a twin peak sign
What signs can be useful in the determining if a twin pregnancy is monochorionic diamniotic or dichorionic diamniotic twins?
Lambda and T sign
What is lambda sign?
Chorion in between the membranes at the site of membrane insertion of the placenta
What is T sign?
Absence of chorion between the membranes at the site of membrane insertion of the placenta
What does lambda sign indicate?
Dichorionic diamniotic twins
Why is important to differentiate between monochorionic diamniotic and dichorionic diamniotic twins?
Because monochorionic diamniotic twins may have placental vascular anastomosis
What might placental vascular anastomosis give rise to?
Twin-to-twin transfusion and its effects
What causes variation in the rate of dizygotic twins?
- Familial factors
- Parity
- Older mothers
- Ovulation induction
Do familial factors affect the rate of dizygotic pregnancies if they are on the mothers or fathers side?
Appears to be maternal side only
What effect does parity have on the rate of dizygotic twins?
Rate is higher with higher parity
What effect does maternal age have on the rate of dizygotic twins?
Small increase in older mothers
What can the use of gonadotrophin therapy result in?
Twins, triplets, or even higher order pregnancies
How can the use of gonadotrophin therapy leading to multiple pregnancy be avoided to some degree?
By monitoring ovarian follicular development and withholding injection of hCG if excessive number of follicles development
What happens to the normal processes of maternal physiological adaptation in multiple pregnancy?
They are exaggerated
Give 3 maternal physiological adaptations that are exaggerated in pregnancy
- Weight gain
- Increase in red cell mass
- Increased maternal cardiac output
How does weight gain differ in single vs multiple pregnancy?
On average, 3.5kg more in multiple pregnancy
What is the problem with the increase in red cell mass in multiple pregnancy?
It does not match the additional expansion in plasma volume compared to single pregnancy
What is the result of the expansion of red cell mass not matching the expansion of plasma volume in multiple pregnancy?
Relative anaemia develops
What complications are associated with all types of multiple pregnancy?
- Nausea and vomiting
- Anaemia
- Miscarriage
- Antepartum haemorrhage
- Gestational hypertension, pre-eclampsia, and eclampsia
- IUGR
- Pre-term labour
- Structural abnormalities
How does the nausea and vomiting compare in multiple pregnancy to single pregnancy?
It is early onset and increased severity in multiple pregnancy
How much more likely is the mother to develop anaemia in multiple pregnancy compared to single pregnancy?
2x
What should be done in women with multiple pregnancy to avoid anaemia?
As a minimum, all should consider iron and folate supplementation throughout gestation